Canadian Bantamweight Rankings – October 2012

Big, big changes in the Canadian Top 10 Bantamweights due to the newly announced citizenship of a certain DREAM champion and the large amount of Canadian 135ers staying active in the UFC. We even saw two fights this rankings period that had two fighters from the top 10 facing off against each other.

Top 10 Canadian Bantamweights
1. Bibiano Fernandes (12-3) – Previous Rank (NR) – Not often we get a newcomer showing up at the top of the rankings, but Bibiano Fernandes is not just any newcomer. The DREAM champion informed Top MMA News that he has Canadian citizenship with a Canadian wife and Canadian children, so we threw him into the top 10 and he ended up at the top. Bibi is 11-1 in his last 12 fights including his latest win over Gustavo Falciroli in his new home – ONE FC. Fernandes has beaten a who’s who on the Asian MMA scene including Imanari, Hansen, Warren, Banuelos, and Takaya. The only problem for him now is finding stiff competition outside the UFC. Next Fight: TBD.

Bibiano Fernandes (photo: One FC)

2. Ivan Menjivar (24-9) – Previous Rank (1) – Ivan Menjivar was tagged to fight Renan Barao but that fight got scrapped and the Pride of El Salvador and Canada fought Mike Easton instead. Sadly, Menjivar had his three fight UFC winning streak snap as well as a potential shot at the UFC Bantamweight title as Easton took the unanimous decision victory over the Tristar MMA fighter. Menjivar welcomes a new “Tough Guy” to the UFC in his next fight as he faces Azamat Gashimov in Montreal. Next Fight: vs Azamat Gashimov at UFC 154 on November 17.

3. Yves Jabouin (18-8) – Previous Rank (3) – Like Menjivar, Yves Jabouin had his three fight winning streak in the UFC snapped in his last fight. Brad Pickett made his fans happy as he knocked out the Tiger. Jabouin keeps his third spot due to also getting a win over Jeff Hougland in this rankings period. After the hard KO, Yves deserves some rest and some time to refocus on his next charge up the UFC ladder. Next fight: vs TBD

4. Roland Delorme (8-1, 1 NC) – Previous Rank (7) – With Francisco Rivera testing positive following his UFC 149 bout, Rolly Delorme remains undefeated in the UFC at 2-0 despite losing his last fight in Calgary. During this rankings period, Delorme also made a big impression by finishing the previously #2 ranked Nick Denis in one of the best rounds of 2012. Due to this success, Delorme makes the biggest jump in the Top 10. Next fight: vs TBD

5. Nick Denis (11-3) – Previous Rank (2) – Nick Denis drops three spots following his loss to the former #7 ranked Roland Delorme. Denis was scheduled to fight Johnny Bedford but that fell through and Delorme took the opportunity to upset the higher ranked Denis. Don’t despair Ninja of Love fans, Denis remains highly ranked on the basis of his past victories including great finishes on Nick Mamalis and Joseph Sandoval. Next Fight: vs TBD

Josh Hill defeated John Fraser (photo: Mike Fischl)

6. Michel Gagnon (9-2) – Previous Rank (4) – No thanks to Fernandes and Delorme, Mitch Gagnon drops down two spots despite going 1-1 and winning his first UFC fight. That first win came in Gagnon’s home province against Walel Watson and he won by his usual method – first round submission. For Gagnon to advance further up the UFC ladder, he is going to have to shake those second and third round demons as seen in his Bryan Caraway loss. We know Mitch can do it! Next Fight: vs TBD

7. Josh Hill (9-0) – Previous Rank (6) – Hill falls victim to the Fernandes and Delorme promotions and drops a step despite dominating the previously #5 ranked John Fraser over three rounds. As Hill continues to knock off top opposition, he will continue to climb this ladder even if he does not get the call to the UFC. Hill’s toughest opponent to date is already lined up for his next fight when he faces BJJ black belt Raphael Rebello. Next Fight: vs Raphael Rebello at SFS on November 23.

8. John Fraser (11-4) – Previous Rank (5) – John Fraser had his ups and downs since the last rankings. First he took on Josh Hill and spent three rounds on his back. However, he quickly righted his ship with a win at Featherweight against UFC vet Tyler Toner. Fraser says he will take some time off now. He will be resting up for his next run up the 135 mountain. Next fight: TBD.

Randy Turner bests Eric Perez (photo: Mike Fischl)

9. Randy Turner (6-2) – Previous Rank (NR) – This “Relentless” fighter wanted a tough fight so he took on the former #9 ranked Eric Perez and won the WRECK Bantamweight title for his trouble. Turner, who makes his debut on the Top 10, simply has cardio for days and can outwork almost every fighter on this list. Next up for the OAMA fighter is a title defense against former The Ultimate Fighter cast member BJ Ferguson. Next fight: vs BJ Ferguson at WRECK MMA on November 9

10. Stephane Pelletier (6-1) – Previous Rank (10) – Juvaldo fighter Stephane Pelletier remains on the Top 10. In his last fight, he submitted a tough Melvin Blumer for his fourth consecutive victory. Pelletier, the former Ringside Bantamweight champion, is now in limbo as there are no Instinct shows scheduled for the future. With this kid’s talent, someone give him a fight! Next fight: vs TBD

Let me know who you think is worse that Tyler and I can answer why the rankers chose him over Davis. Please remember that in Sean Qunn, Davis faced a guy who was not “Outside the Top 10”, had one win since 2009, who had a few day’s short notice, and, off the top of my head, was not even at Bantamweight. Still a great win though.

As for the Sean Quinn comment. Beating Tyler Davis would not have got him on the list. Quinn is not better than Bibiano, did not beat a guy who was ranked like Turner did, and Pelletier has a great record and very good wins over guys like Waardenburg and Blumer. I imagine that beating Davis would put Quinn in the “Outside of the Top 10” zone.

Davis isn’t on there because that list is so unbelievably talented. You seriously can’t put him ahead of anyone on the despite beating Quinn and fighting well in his previous fights. He needs to beat a Pelletier or a Turner to earn the spot in my opinion.

“Pelletier has a great record and very good wins over guys like Waardenburg and Blumer”

Pelletier is 6-1 Tyler is 8-2 both great records so how does that work. But in 2012 Pelletier did have a very good win in Blumer while Tyler had win over 3-0 Mitch McPhee than he beat Sean Quinn who despite took on short notice he was coming off a brutal KO win., Both fighters took that on short notice. It was two 135ers scrapping at 145 cause it was short notice but both had a fight already that month.

I’d say Louis is close to “outside the top 10” but with best win being Mike O’Neill or Munroe, it was hard to put him there. That and the loss to Daniel Mark and then you start going “if Fisette is in there, why isn’t Mark?” and then “if Mark is in there, why isn’t Mike Davis?”

For what it is worth, the two guys who got the most talk for being promoted to “Outside the Top 10” were Mike Davis and Louis Fisette.

As for saying whoever wins between Fisette and Wilson should be Top 10, that sounds good, but it also means that you have to move someone out and that no one else can get a big win or return to active status (like Wooley).

Personally…my biggest issue with the list is Josh Hill moving down in rank.

Ha ha ha….so cute. Did Tyler’s whole gym peeps just defend him??? Nothing like a bunch of guys trying to make Davis feel better because he probably has a hurt ego. FACT – Davis does not belong on the top 10 list – yet. Yes, he may be 8-2, but some of those fights were jokes. He has only fought in some small, western Canadian shows, and has not fought some of the talent as other fighters on the Top 10 list. He needs to prove himself against some of those guys first. Has he even been offered a title fight yet anywhere??? Please, let’s not put him on some pedastal here, his head is already too big.

WOW GAGNON DROPS TO 6TH BEHIND ROLAND AND DENIS ? NO DAVIS EITHER , AND PELLETIER WOULD BEAT TURNER , HOPE THAT ONE HAPPENS AND JOSH HILL JUST BEAT A RANKED HAGGIS BASHER AND DROPPED 1 SPOT THIS SHIT IF FUCKING NUTS !

I agree with topmmafan on this one actually. That list is full of beasts but 2013 is just around the corner so that sounds like one hell of a new years resolution. I know Eric Perez contacted me about a fight which.I think would be a great fight for the fans at least. I’ll make sure I.purchase Costco size boxes of icy hot, asprin, gauze, and ice packs and have some.crutches on stand by if we can get that to happen. :)

Fighters have issues with Top MMA News rankings mainly because of this:

They want to make the UFC and having a great record is the best way to do that right now. UFC does not seem to care as much on who you beat, but more on how many you have won and how you did it.

Top MMA News does not care so much about your record as who you beat.

e.g. Alex Garcia beating Stephane Lamarche will not help him in our rankings other than it keeps him on the active list. If Garcia highlight reel KOs Lamarche to go 8-1, he could end up in UFC, Bellator, TUF next.

@ KEITH – GAGNONS LOSE CAME FROM A TOP 20 135ER WHOM HE WAS DOMINATING IN THE FIRST TILL HE GOT GASSED , DO AGREE ON ONE THING IF GAGNON GETS HIS GAS TANK RIGHT HE WILL BE A TOP 135ER IN THE UFC , FIGHTMATRIX HAS JOSH HILL AT CANADAS #1 135ER, BETWEEN TOPMMANEWS AND FIGHT MATRIX THIS LIST IS LOPSIDED IN MY OPINON . DELORME AND GAGNON NEEDS TO HAPPEN AND REMEBER DENIS WAS #2 UNTIL DELORM BEAT HIM , DOES THAT GIVE HIM THE RIGHT TO JUMP ALL THE WAY UP THE LIST CAUSE THERE ARE 5 FIGHTERS IN MY BOOK THAT WOULD BEAT DELORME THAT ARE RATED UNDER HIM . ( DENIS WAS A FANTASTIC WIN FOR ROLLY BUT THE FERGUSEN FIGHT WAS WAY OVER MATCHED!

ROLLY LOST TO WILSON WHOM WAS BEATEN BY BOTH HILL AND FRASER CONVINCINGLY , JUST DONT SEE ROLLY BEATING HILL , HAGGIS BASHER , GAGNON , PELLETIER AND THE TURNER FIGHT WOULD BE GREAT MATCHUP FOR BOTH AND THE RANKS ! I LOVE ROLLY , TOUGH SOB BUT THERE ARE 4 OR 5 GUYS OUTSIDE THE UFC IN CANADA THAT WOULD BEAT ROLLY . HAVING HIM AT #4 JUST MAKES ME WANT TO SMOKE BETTER SHIT !

Are you talking about the same Eric Perez I am? Cause watching that guy fight is like watching a match of mortal kombat just combos for days. His fight with Demetri W was insane. IMO still one of Canada’s best.bantamweights I hope it happens seamed like the perfect fight. Perfect in a way that win or lose I’ll probly be on a soup and smothie diet for the three weeks after the fight

As for Fight Matrix, we do not look at those at all before publishing our list.

I don’t know their math, but it is a good list of fighters.

A couple difference between our lists:
* FightMatrix only ranks where Sherdog says a person fights (eg. John Fraser is only a FW there. If Fraser fought in past year in different, TMN ranks him in both – as you will soon see:) .)

DENIS LOST TO ROLLY REALLY DROPED HIS STOCK . HOPEFULLY HE WILL REBOUND MABE AGAINST THAT TJ DILLASHAW DUDE. LOVE TO SEE A CANADIAN BOY KICK HIS ASS ! OH YA DIDNT HE KO ROLLY AT TUF EVEN THOUGH ITS AMMY AND DONT COUNT AGAINST THE RANKS BUT HE DID GET HANDLED EASILY ,BUT TJ WONT BEAT DENIS OR GAGNON .

ROLLY S BEEN ON THE BOTTOM OF YOUR LIST FOR A WHILE NOW AND DENIS WAS AT THE TOP RIGHT ? WHY NOT MOVE DENIS DOWN , BUT YOU ARE RIGHT I DO ARGUE THAT PELLETIER AND DENIS ARE NECK AND NECK ! DONT SEE HOW YOU HAVE DENIS ABOVE HILL GAGNON AND FRASER AFTER THE ROLLY LOSE EVEN THOUGH HE BEAT ALOT OF TOP FIGHTERS BUT NOT AT 135 ( SANDALVO AND NICK M ) GOOD FIGHTERS WITH GREAT NAMES ON THE MMA SEEN BUT ALL 10 ON YOUR LIST CAN BEAT THEM 2 SO ITS NOT SAYING MUCH IN MY BOOK . PELLETIER SHOULD HAVE FOUGHT GAGNON THEN SOME OF THIS SHIT WOULD BE A LITTLE CLEARER !

Deep list forsure: 2 bad for Eric Montgomery of our Gym @ MTCWINDSOR isnt as active as the others due to school during the yr. But now at 4-0 and victories over Turner and much talked about Brown belt Frank Marques will be back available April of 2013 and probably deserves some consideration at the honorable mention list.

Brent Franczuz (Losses to HILL/HARRIS)is looking to get back in action possibly around that time aswell and potentially one of the 2 looking to move down to the 125lbs division